Latest news with #EmilyTrueman
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I got 10 GCSEs then dived into a £60-a-day ketamine addiction'
A teenager who fell into a hole of ketamine addiction, sniffing up to 14 grams a day has spoken out about the dangers of the drug, and given advice to young people who are in the depths of an addiction A girl who was only 16 years old when she struggled with a ketamine addiction that was so out of control, she only got out of bed to meet her dealer, has spoken out about how she found help and the road to recovery. Emily Trueman from Hoylake in Merseyside became addicted to the drug more commonly used as a horse tranquiliser after a change in friends when she was just a teenager. At the height of her addiction, when she was only 19, she would be splashing £60 a day, nearly £1,900 a month, in a downwards spiral that saw her sniffing up to 14 grams a day. Once promising at school, her addiction consumed so much of her life that she had to drop out of sixth form and college to keep up her dangerous habit. After checking herself into a rehab programme, the teenager has managed to curb the addiction and has now begun her journey to transform her life, which she describes as "amazing". Now five months clean, she has spoken out about the problem flooding across the country and wants to offer help to young people who have also become consumed by what she describes as "the norm". Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Emily talked of how quickly ketamine turned her life upside down: "I went to school and got my 10 GCSEs. When I left, I became friends with a new group, and that's just what they were into. "It got to a point where I was taking it every day. I've got ADHD and I was undiagnosed at the time. My mind runs so quickly. When I took ket everything slowed down. "I felt like a failure with every step I went through in life. I was clever in school, but I could never sustain it when I got to exams. I couldn't keep up with education, I couldn't keep up with work, and I was having run-ins with the police. I was so depressed, I honestly thought I'd never escape it and I'd never be happy without it. "The last few months before rehab were getting out of bed to see a dealer and then coming back home and sniffing in my room. That was it." The addiction caused her to move away from sixth form so she could have access to the drug, eventually dropping out of college so she could work full-time to fund the addiction that cost more than double the price of the average rent in Liverpool. Emily added: "I dropped out a few months in because I couldn't afford to feed my addiction. I started working full-time, swapping jobs, and then I went on sick leave for a couple of months. Eventually, I went back to work because sick pay wasn't cutting it and I couldn't afford my drugs anymore." Through her considerable consumption, the teenager was having some drastic effects on her health; shrinking her bladder, damaging her liver and risking kidney failure - but not thinking she had a problem, she would continue the habit. "I thought it's what everyone does. When you're an addict, your brain does anything to tell you you're not an addict," she added: "If you're sitting in a room full of people who are also addicts, and you keep behaving like you don't have a problem by using together, you'll never realise that you actually do have a problem. And people also don't realise they have a problem because literally everyone does it. It's normal." "I only started realising I had a problem the last time I went on sick pay, a month before I went to rehab. I realised I wasn't able to maintain any kind of normal life while being addicted to ket. "Nothing was conducive to a normal lifestyle. I didn't sleep in the night; I slept in the day. I was living in my bed; I wouldn't shower, wouldn't get dressed. I wouldn't want to speak to anyone unless they were other users. "My life was just a big mess. I just knew I couldn't live like that anymore. But it was difficult because I couldn't go to one of my friends and tell them I had a problem. They were all addicts too." Now being clean, she is looking to help other young addicts by trying to help people understand when they are an addict. She said: "You can't just put down a drug and stay clean; it doesn't work like that. You have to change every aspect of your life. It's about looking at your spirituality and learning to do these small things, which will boost your mood. That's what helps you stay in recovery. I'd really recommend fellowship groups and engagement services. "Try to distance yourself from people who use. I've cut contact with people I know who used. There is some kind of hope out there. I'm sitting here, and I'm nearly five months clean. I never thought I would see that day. I thought I'd be using it until I die, or until I end my life. That's where I was at; I was just miserable. It sucked all the life out of me." According to the Office for National Statistics, 2.9% of 16 to 24-year-olds reported using ketamine between April 2023 and March 2024. The age group had the highest drug use in the UK, with 16.5% of people reporting they have used some form of drug, with ketamine now just behind cocaine as one of the most used options for the generation.
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Teen ketamine addict who took 14 grams a day only left bed to meet dealer
"The last few months before rehab were getting out of bed to see a dealer and then coming back home and sniffing in my room. That was it." A teenage ketamine addict has spoken about being so gripped by her addiction that she would only get out of bed to buy drugs, before realising she needed help. Emily Trueman, 19, started using the drug when she was only 16 after meeting new friends. At the height of her addiction, she was sniffing up to 14 grams a day, costing her about £60. She became so dependent, she ended up dropping out of sixth form and college to satisfy her habit. Now five months clean, she is warning others about the drug's effects, claiming it has become "the norm" for young people to use it. She told our sister title the Liverpool ECHO: "I went to school and got my 10 GCSEs. When I left, I became friends with a new group, and that's just what they were into. "It got to a point where I was taking it every day. I've got ADHD and I was undiagnosed at the time. My mind runs so quickly. When I took ket everything slowed down. "I felt like a failure with every step I went through in life. I was clever in school, but I could never sustain it when I got to exams. I couldn't keep up with education, I couldn't keep up with work, and I was having run-ins with the police. I was so depressed, I honestly thought I'd never escape it and I'd never be happy without it. "The last few months before rehab were getting out of bed to see a dealer and then coming back home and sniffing in my room. That was it." Emily dropped out of sixth form so ketamine could become "more accessible". She continued: "Drugs weren't really a thing in sixth form. I ended up going to a [different college] with a friend who also used. "I dropped out a few months in because I couldn't afford to feed my addiction. I started working full-time, swapping jobs, and then I went on sick leave for a couple of months. "Eventually I went back to work because sick pay wasn't cutting it and I couldn't afford my drugs anymore." Despite being told she had multiple health issues, including a shrunken bladder, limited liver function and a risk of kidney failure, she carried on using, not believing she had a problem. She said: "I thought it's what everyone does. When you're an addict, your brain does anything to tell you you're not an addict. "If you're sitting in a room full of people who are also addicts, and you keep behaving like you don't have a problem by using together, you'll never realise that you actually do have a problem. And people also don't realise they have a problem because literally everyone does it. It's normal. "I only started realising I had a problem the last time I went on sick pay, a month before I went to rehab. I realised I wasn't able to maintain any kind of normal life while being addicted to ket. "Nothing was conducive to a normal lifestyle. I didn't sleep in the night; I slept in the day. I was living in my bed; I wouldn't shower, wouldn't get dressed. I wouldn't want to speak to anyone unless they were other users. "My life was just a big mess. I just knew I couldn't live like that anymore. But it was difficult because I couldn't go to one of my friends and tell them I had a problem. They were all addicts too." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. She described ketamine use in Liverpool as a "crisis". She added: "The price has gone so much cheaper; you don't know what it's being bashed with. "It's everywhere. If I walked into Liverpool, I'd be able to spot numerous people who are on ket or people I used to use with. That's just the way it is right now." Emily began a rehabilitation programme at Birchwood Rehab in Heswall, Merseyside, in February, and now wants to offer help to other young people affected by addiction. She added: "I think it's important for people to understand that when you're an addict, you can't just put down a drug and stay clean; it doesn't work like that. "You have to change every aspect of your life. It's about looking at your spirituality and learning to do these small things, which will boost your mood. That's what helps you stay in recovery. I'd really recommend fellowship groups and engagement services. "Try to distance yourself from people who use. I've cut contact with people I know who used. There is some kind of hope out there. I'm sitting here, and I'm nearly five months clean. I never thought I would see that day. I thought I'd be using it until I die, or until I end my life. That's where I was at; I was just miserable. It sucked all the life out of me." According to the Office for National Statistics, 2.9 per cent of 16-24-year-olds reported using ketamine between April 2023 and March 2024, a slight reduction from a record high of 3.8 per cent the previous year. In January 2025, the Home Office said it was looking to seek expert advice on reclassifying it from controlled Class B to the more serious Class A. The maximum penalty for supply and production of ketamine is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
North Wales Live
21-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
'I would only get out of bed to see a dealer before going home to sniff'
A woman has bravely opened up about her battle with ketamine addiction, which had gripped her life to the extent that she only left her bed to purchase drugs. Emily Trueman started using ketamine at 16 after falling in with a new crowd. By 19, Emily, from Hoylake, was snorting up to 14 grams of ketamine daily, spending roughly £60 to feed her habit, leading her to abandon her education. Now five months sober, she's sharing her story to highlight the drug's prevalence among the youth, describing its use as "the norm". Speaking to the ECHO, Emily recounted: "I went to school and got my 10 GCSEs. When I left, I became friends with a new group, and that's just what they were into. "It got to a point where I was taking it every day. I've got ADHD and I was undiagnosed at the time. My mind runs so quickly. When I took ket everything slowed down. "I felt like a failure with every step I went through in life. I was clever in school, but I could never sustain it when I got to exams. I couldn't keep up with education, I couldn't keep up with work, and I was having run-ins with the police. I was so depressed, I honestly thought I'd never escape it and I'd never be happy without it. "The last few months before rehab were getting out of bed to see a dealer and then coming back home and sniffing in my room. That was it." In April 2024, Emily dropped out of sixth form so ketamine could become "more accessible". She said: "Drugs weren't really a thing in sixth form. I ended up going to a [different college] with a friend who also used. "I dropped out a few months in because I couldn't afford to feed my addiction. I started working full-time, swapping jobs, and then I went on sick leave for a couple of months. "Eventually I went back to work because sick pay wasn't cutting it and I couldn't afford my drugs anymore." Despite suffering from an array of health issues, including a shrunken bladder, limited liver functioning, and even being told she was at risk of kidney failure, Emily continued to use, sniffing a daily dose of up to half an ounce of ketamine. However, the teenager never thought she had a problem. She said: "I thought it's what everyone does. When you're an addict, your brain does anything to tell you you're not an addict. "If you're sitting in a room full of people who are also addicts, and you keep behaving like you don't have a problem by using together, you'll never realise that you actually do have a problem. And people also don't realise they have a problem because literally everyone does it. It's normal. "I only started realising I had a problem the last time I went on sick pay, a month before I went to rehab. I realised I wasn't able to maintain any kind of normal life while being addicted to ket. "Nothing was conducive to a normal lifestyle. I didn't sleep in the night; I slept in the day. I was living in my bed; I wouldn't shower, wouldn't get dressed. I wouldn't want to speak to anyone unless they were other users. "My life was just a big mess. I just knew I couldn't live like that anymore. But it was difficult because I couldn't go to one of my friends and tell them I had a problem. They were all addicts too." Emily said the streets of Liverpool are heavily infiltrated with ketamine. "It definitely is a crisis," she said. "The price has gone so much cheaper; you don't know what it's being bashed with. "It's everywhere. If I walked into Liverpool, I'd be able to spot numerous people who are on ket or people I used to use with. That's just the way it is right now." In February this year, Emily began a rehabilitation program at Birchwood Rehab in Heswall, which she says has been "amazing". Now five months clean, Emily wants to help other young people who are in the grip of an addiction. When asked what advice she would give to other young addicts, Emily said: "I think it's important for people to understand that when you're an addict, you can't just put down a drug and stay clean; it doesn't work like that. "You have to change every aspect of your life. It's about looking at your spirituality and learning to do these small things, which will boost your mood. That's what helps you stay in recovery. I'd really recommend fellowship groups and engagement services. "Try to distance yourself from people who use. I've cut contact with people I know who used. There is some kind of hope out there. I'm sitting here, and I'm nearly five months clean. I never thought I would see that day. I thought I'd be using it until I die, or until I end my life. That's where I was at; I was just miserable. It sucked all the life out of me." In Liverpool, councillors have said the region is in the grip of a 'ketamine crisis'. According to the Office for National Statistics, 2.9% of 16 to 24-year-olds reported using ketamine between April 2023 and March 2024. This was down slightly from the previous year, when usage levels hit a record 3.8% for the age group. In January, the Home Office said it would seek expert advice on reclassifying the drug from its current controlled Class B status to the more serious Class A. Currently, the maximum penalty for supplying and producing ketamine is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
